Snap fastener and snap fastener installation



Jan. 27, 1942.

INVENTOR CHARLES L. HALL by A1119 Q. l.. HALL 2,271,495

SNAP FASTENER AND SNAP FASTENER INSTALLATION Filed May 17, 1959 of with a support;

Patented` Jan. 27, 1942 SNAP FASTENR AND SNAP FASTENER INSTALLATION 'charles L. Hau, Detroit, Mich., assigner reunited- Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass.,

a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 17, 1939, Serial No. 274,206

lA Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in `fastener members particularly bf the type used vision ofa fastener member having a flange or base portion adapted for assembly with a part to be `supported and a stud head and'neck extending from the base for snap fastener engagement with a support through an aperture of the support so'as to secure the parts of the installation together and means such as latex rubber encircling the outer surface of the stud adjacent the aperture of the support in a way to seal the aperture to prevent the passage of foreign matter through the aperture between the outer' surface of the stud and the walls of the aperture.

My invention is particularly useful in installations wherein a lmolding strip or the like, now commonly used for ornamenting the exteriors of automobiles, are secured to the body of the automobile due to the fact that it is impossible for water, Wind or dust to enter the interior of the automobileV through the fastener member or the fastener-receiving opening of the body.

Referring tothe drawing, in which I have illustrated preferredv embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view showing a molding strip with one of my improved fastener members assembled therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my preferred installation showing a molding strip with one of my fastener members assembled therewith in position prior to fastener engagement there- Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the installation shown in Fig. 2 with the parts thereof in final fastened assembly;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of 'the fastener member shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 571s a front View partly in section of the y fastener shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of my improved fastener member; and

`the top side 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the fastener member shown in Fig. 6. y

Referring to the preferred installation of my invention illustrated in the drawing, I have shown a part to be supported, such as a molding strip I, secured to the outer surface 2 of a support 3 by a fastener stud member 4. The molding strip I is of the type now commonly used to ornament the lYexteriors of yautomobiles and provides an arched top side 5 and flange portions 6 extending inwardly from longitudinal edges of The flanges 6 are spaced one from another at their longitudinal free edges and formthe bottom side of the molding. The support 3, which is preferably the body of an automobile, has a circularopening 1 for receiving a contractible and expansible head of the fastener member 4.

Referring in detail to my improvedfastener member 4, I have shown one made from one piece of sheet metal having a flange or base portion ii` at one end. Ahollow boss is pressed from the base 8 and extends from the outer surface 9 thereof providing a stud head I0 and a neck II. A plurality of slots I2 extend from the outer end of the head I0 in my preferred vform through the neck II and into the base 8 rendering the `head and neck contractible and expansible for snap fastener engagement with theI support 3 through the aperture l. Flange portions I3' extend from opposed marginal edges of the base 8 in the direction of the stud head I0 and not only effect tight assembly of thebase 8 within the molding I, but also give a substantially hollow or'cup-like shape to the base so as to aid the attachment of a flexible nony metallic covering to the outer surface thereof,

as will be' hereinafter more fully described.

Having reference to my` rst form of stud member illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5, I have shown one wherein the slots'l2 are covered by a flexible non-metallic material on opposite sides of the fastener.V It should be understood,'

however,that I do not wish to be limited by this construction in view of the fact that the fastener member may be capable of'eifecting the desired object should the slots I2 be covered on one side only of the fastener.

Referring in detail to the fastener member shown in Figs. 1-6, the outer surface 9- of the base 8 and the outer surface of the 4stud head I0 and neck II have a covering I4 f flexible non-metallic material which is preferably appliediby` dipping the fastener into the liquid latex. I prefer a covering for the outer surfaces neck.

of the fastener formed of liquid latex rather than molded rubber as the latex can be put on more economically andeiects a more resilient coating for a purpose hereinafter described.- It

will be seen that the covering I4 may be thickest adjacent the outer surface 9 of the basel and may diminish progressively in thickness from the base 8 to the outer end of 'the head I0. The

covering Il completely overlies the' slots I2 so4 as to prevent the passage' of water, air or the' around the neck Il adjacent the upper surface 2 of the support so as to effect a seal which prevents the passage of foreign matter through the opening 1 between'the outer surface of the fas- 'tener member and the walls I5.

In addition, an insert or plug 17 of resilient,

non-metallic material, such as sponge rubber,

2. Afastener stud member comprising a base portion and a stud head and neck extending from saidbase portion for fastener engagement with a support through an aperture thereof, said having a hollow bossA extendingfrom the outer may be inserted into the interior of the boss 4 from a position outside the inner surface I8 of the base 8 so as to overlie the slots I2 adjacent the inner surfaces of the studlhead and neck. A covering of liquid latex I9 may be applied to the end of the plug I'I adjacent the inner surface I8 of the base 8 so as to overlie those portions 2'0 of the slots I2 which extend into the base 8 thus completely sealing all openings in the fastener.

In Fig. 6 I 4have shown a fastener member which is similar in form to the fastener member illustrated in Figs. 1-5, but witnwhich I have chosen to employ the plug or insert I'I as the sole means for sealingvthe slots I2 against 'the passage of foreign matter therethrough. Thus Il have found that the fastener is capable of satisfactory operation for the desired purposes by employing theplug I1 alone for sealing the openings. Furthermore, it is understood thatv the fastener member would work successfully should the plug I1 and covering I9. be omitted and the outer covering Il provide the sole means for sealing the openings in the fastener and any space between the fastener and the walls I5 surrounding the aperture 'I of the support when the parts `of the installation are in final assembly.

It will be seen, therefore, ,from inspection of Fig. 2 that when the molding I is secured to the base it is impossible for elements such as wind.

and water or foreign matter such as dust or dirt -to enter into the interior ofthe automobile through the openings of the fastener member or .Y

through .the opening of the support through which the stud and head of the fastener extend.

Although I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not 'wish to be limited thereby because the scopev of my inventionl is bestset forth in the following claims.`

y I claim:

l. A snap fastener member comprising `a -base 'portion and a slotted stud head and neck extending from said base portion for snap fastener engagement with a support through an aperture, thereof, and said head and neck having a covering of flexible material to exclude passagev of foreign matter through the slotted head and at least one slot extending from said head through said neck and into said. base, a plug of flexible material disposed' within said hollow boss andtheinner surface of said base having a covering of material of the nature -of latex rubber so as to overlie the portion of said slot in said base, said plug and said covering combining to prevent the passage of foreign matter'through said slot. l

4. A fastenervstud member comprisingI abase having a hollow boss extendingfrom the outer surface thereof providing a stud head and 'neck for fastener engagementwith a Support through an aperture thereof, said stud member having at least one`slot extending from said head through said neck and into said base to permit contrace tion'of said head, the outer surface of said base, head and neck having a covering of resilient material so as to overlie said slot, va plug of flexi-ble material disposed within said hollow boss so as to overlie said slot at the inner surface of said head and boss and the inner surface o'f said and said coverings combining to prevent the passage of foreignl matter through said slot.

5. A waterproof fastener installation comprising a support having an aperture, a snap-member to be secured to said support and a fastener stud member for securing said parts together, said stud member having a -base in assembled engagement with said member and a stud head and neck extending from said base through said aperture of said. supDQrt to engage said head behind said support, said stud member havinga 'slot extending from said head' into said neck to a point beyond the opposite side of said support from said head to permit contractionv of said head, 'and said fastener having means of flexible materialA overlying said slot to prevent passage of water or other foreign matter fromone side of said `support through said slot of said fastener to i be secured to said support and a fastener stud member for securing said parts together.' said stud member having a base in assembled engagement with said member and a stud 4head and neck extending from said base through said aperture of said support vto engage said head behind said support, said stud member having a siotextendsaid s iot of said fastener to the other side of from said base through 'said-aperture o! saidy said support. y

7. A waterproof fastener installation comprising a support having an aperture, a member to be secured to said support and a metallic fastener stud' member for securing said parts together, said stud member having a base in engagement with said member and a contractible and expansible jportion providing a stud head and neck extending support to engage said head behind said support, said portion having separation spaces to permit contraction and expansion, and .flexible means such as rubber forming a part of the fasf tener and closing said spaces to preventpassage oi' water, dust and the like through the saidV portion for the purpose'de's'cribed.

. CHARLES L. HALL., 

